High Tunnel Primocane Blackberry Production in Minnesota

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1 46 Fruits and Vegetables Nennich Principal Investigator Terrance Nennich University of Minnesota Extension Regional Center 2900 University Ave. Crookston, MN edu Project Duration Award Amount $23,932 Staff Contact Jean Ciborowski Keywords blackberry, fertigation, high tunnel, primocane fruiting, thornless blackberries, winter protection High Tunnel Primocane Blackberry Production in Minnesota Project Summary This is the third season of the high tunnel blackberry project at the North Central Research and Outreach Center (NCROC). Primocane fruiting blackberries were planted in the south high tunnel and in a field trial in the late spring of Blackberries were grown conventionally. The cultivars/ selections included were Prime Jan, Prime Jim, MNPF1001, MNPF1002, APF41, APF45, and APF48. Additionally, three thornless primocane fruiting selections, APF136, APF138, and APF139, were planted for demonstration purposes. Tunnel temperatures in mid-winter approached -17 F, while outside temperatures reached -35 F. In the prior season ( ), some winter die-off occurred among several varieties in the tunnel and in the field, and plants were replaced to make up the deficits. For the winter season, straw and snow mulch were applied to the tunnel plants to provide additional insulation and to avoid problems with winter die-off. Plants grew vigorously early in the spring and throughout the season; however, spider mites became a problem in midseason. Small quantities of berries began to be harvested in early August from the tunnel. Fruit production reached its peak in late August. Field fruit was slower to mature, and none was harvestable. By mid-october, plants in the tunnel continued to flower and produce small quantities of fruit, while immature fruit on the field plants had shriveled and dried from a hard freeze in mid-september and cooler nighttime temperatures. The quality of the fruit from the tunnel was high, but the quantity was less than expected, despite an unusually warm fall season after a mid-september hard freeze. Project Description Blackberries are a high value crop that could provide revenue for small farmers in the fall. Blackberry production in Minnesota, however, is not very common due to the fact that floricane fruiting varieties are not typically hardy enough for Minnesota. In 2005/2006, primocane fruiting blackberries were grown in a field setting at NCROC, but no berries matured in 2006 due to the early frost. All the plants were killed after the winter of 2006/2007 during which there was no snow cover. Primocane fruiting raspberries have been a very successful crop in the north high tunnel at NCROC; therefore, a trial of primocane fruiting blackberries in the south tunnel seemed a reasonable next step. Primocane fruiting varieties were planted in the tunnel in May, 2009 to evaluate their potential as an alternative fall crop, using the high tunnel to extend the growing season later into the fall. An identical field planting was established in June, Plants cut back to 3, Nov 30, Straw and snow mulch added. GREENBOOK 2012 MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND IPM PROGRAM

2 Fruits and Vegetables Nennich 47 Left: Spider mite damage in the tunnel. Right: HOBO data loggers. In 2010, T-tape irrigation was drained and irrigation terminated in the tunnel at the end of October. The sides of the tunnel were closed, and the plants were allowed to go dormant for the winter season. Plants were cut back to approximately 3 in late November. At that time, approximately 6 of straw mulch topped with 6 to 8 of snow was applied for winter protection. The snow cover was redressed 3 to 4 times during the winter to maintain adequate insulation. As outdoor temperatures approached -35 F in January, 2011, adequate snow cover was available to insulate the field planting. Grand Rapids experienced a somewhat colder than normal winter with greater than normal snowfall. Snow cover began in mid-november, 2010 and persisted until late March, After the added tunnel snow melted, straw mulch was removed at the end of April. Temperatures warmed in May with a few unusually warm days, but June brought below normal temperatures and above normal rainfall. Because the adjustment of tunnel sides to regulate heat had become a problem during the growing season of 2009, gable end vents and fans were added to the tunnel in March, Regulating the temperatures by adjusting the tunnel sides requires an on-site staff member to be present early in the morning and late into the afternoon, and that was not always possible at our site. For 2011, the vents and fans were adjusted to activate at 85 F in order to provide more heat for the developing blackberries. Tunnel sides were generally left open when the temperatures had warmed sufficiently later in June and July, with the vents removing excessive heat. Excessively hot and humid conditions in July caused tunnel temperatures to spike to high levels, despite the ventilation. When nighttime temperatures began to cool in September, tunnel sides were closed in midafternoon to capture the heat of the day and reopened in the morning to remove accumulated moisture. Supplemental heat was provided during a sudden hard freeze that occurred on September 15 and 16. Temperatures then warmed unseasonably through mid-october and no additional supplemental heating was required. Soil fertility was quite good, as the high tunnel had been used to grow tomatoes, peppers and lettuce in 2007 and a cover crop of Sudan grass in Upon review, fertilizer rates used in 2009 were decided to be adequate for the 2010 growing season and were continued for the 2011 season. Additional snow was added in April to pre-moisten the soil. After an initial pre-soak, fertilizer was applied by weekly fertigation in the tunnel, beginning June 10. Nitrogen at the rate of 30 lb N/A was supplied by alternating applications of Ca(NO3)2 and urea (70% of N from Ca(NO3)2 and 30% of N from urea). Micronutrients were added on June 24 and August 5. Field plantings were fertilized with 40 lb N/A in the form of Ca(NO3)2 on May 16. Irrigation in the tunnel was initially supplied weekly and increased to twice per week as temperatures warmed. Approximately 100 gal were provided twice per week, once for fertigation and once for supplemental water. Supplemental water was provided beginning in July as temperatures climbed, rainfall decreased and tunnel temperatures increased. Supplemental field irrigation was seldom needed as the summer rains exceeded normal patterns early in the season but was supplied on 3-4 occasions as needed during the hotter part of the summer. GREENBOOK 2012 MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND IPM PROGRAM

3 48 Fruits and Vegetables Nennich Left: Tunnel growth on June 9, Right: Field growth on June 9, Height and spread measurements were taken four times. Since plants in the tunnel grew quite vigorously, a trellis system was used to contain the large and expanding canes. No thinning of canes was done, but canes were pruned in mid-july since the vigorous growth was reaching the ceiling of the tunnel. During the 2011 season, flower and fruit development, as well as insect and disease pressure, were monitored throughout the growing season. Spider mites had been quite aggressive in the raspberry tunnel this season, and they also were found in the blackberry tunnel. The infestation was most severe in the south, middle section of the tunnel. A chemical spray of the insecticides Brigade and Actara were each applied in a spot spray on August 4. On August 11, one thousand Neoseiulus fallacis predatory mites at a rate of 1,000/row were released in the blackberry tunnel. Because the infestation was more severe than previously experienced, the predatory mites were not able to control it. An additional application of Brigade and Actara was applied for better control. Temperatures were recorded inside and outside the tunnel by automatic data loggers (Onset Computer, HOBO H08 and Pro v2. series). Some fruit was harvested starting on August 10. Harvesting was discontinued on October 17, and the plants will be allowed to go dormant for the winter. A determination will be made in the spring of 2012 as to whether to continue the blackberries in the tunnel for future seasons. Results and Conclusions The added heat in the tunnel during a cold and rainy June spurred on the growth of the tunnel plants, and they were consistently larger, bloomed earlier and produced more fruit than field plants throughout the season. Additional winter protection over the cold months greatly improved plant survival in the tunnel, and tunnel plants were dramatically larger than their field counterparts in early June. Due to the winter mulch, plant size was noticeably larger in the tunnel than in the field at the beginning of June. Outdoor temperatures in June were several degrees below normal, which delayed field plant growth at the beginning of the season. The high tunnel provided an important advantage in terms of additional heat (554 corn degree days for June inside the tunnel vs. 371 outside) during this cool start to the growing season. Note that one way to quantify the heat advantage is to measure heating units using corn degree days (calculated as the average of the minimum of either 86 F or the actual maximum temperature and the maximum of either 50 F or the actual minimum temperature, minus 50 F). Tunnel plants grew so vigorously throughout June and early July that it was necessary to prune some of the tallest growth, which was reaching the ceiling of the tunnel. Both field and tunnel plants generally grew well throughout the season, but the tunnel plants continued to outpace the growth of the field plants throughout August and September. For the period June 1 through September 31, corn degree days inside the tunnel totaled 2,410, while outside the total was 1,842. The high tunnel structure provided nearly a 30% increase in heating units for the heatloving blackberries. Supplemental heat was provided in the tunnel during the nights of September 15 and 16 when a sudden hard freeze occurred (field temperatures reached 25 F). Several cool nights followed and then temperatures warmed to well above normal readings for the next several weeks. Since the plants in both the field and tunnel were even more established this season as compared to last, it was too difficult to count the actual number of canes or branches. Instead, a rating for branching was done, using a 1 to 5 scale (5 = most branching). Additionally, two ratings for vigor and one for sturdiness were done. A zero rating for vigor was given to those plants that showed no growth in GREENBOOK 2012 MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND IPM PROGRAM

4 Fruits and Vegetables Nennich 49 June. Most plants grew quite vigorously both in the tunnel and field, but tunnel plants started the season with better growth and continued to outpace the field plants due to this initial size advantage and the additional heat provided by the tunnel in June. Among those in the tunnel, the cultivars Prime Jan, Prime Jim, and APF-41 were most vigorous. In the field, the selections APF-45, APF-41 and MNPF1001 had the best ratings. While plant growth was encouraging, overall fruit yield was disappointing. Tunnel cultivars/selections began to flower during the week of June 27, while field plants were nearly 3 weeks behind. Green fruit was evident in the tunnel starting the week of July 17, and during the week of August 7 for the field. Red fruit appeared in the tunnel starting in the early part of August, and ripe fruit began to be harvested on August 10. The varieties Prime Jim, APF-48, MNPF1001 and MNPF1002 were among the earlier producers. As of mid-october 2011, the best tunnel plot, variety Prime Jim, produced nearly 1.5 lb of fruit while several other plots produced approximately 380 grams of fruit, or approximately 15% less than 1 lb. In the field, no measurable harvest had occurred. Only the occasional berry had been found. Much green fruit developed in both the tunnel and in the field, but the majority of that fruit did not fully develop into harvestable fruit. Oftentimes, the green fruit dried and shriveled on the plant, and it appeared the fruit was not pollinated. Although the plants grew well, most fruit did not develop completely in any year of the study. In 2009, only a few flowers and fruits developed, as the plants were becoming established. During the 2010 season, nearly 6 lb of high-quality berries were harvested from the tunnel, while production for the 2011 season was 9.3 lb. The fall 2011 season had been an unusually warm one, except for the freeze that occurred in mid-september. Field blackberries were not able to develop fully, while the tunnel blackberries were still flowering and producing harvestable fruit throughout October, but not in quantities that would justify the cost of their maintenance. Harvesting was discontinued on October 17, when a period of cold nights that would require supplemental heating began. The quantity of berries was low, but the fruit quality was high. Harvested berries were generally large and well-formed. Work with primocane blackberries has been an interesting experiment, but additional research for cold-hardy varieties needs to continue. Even with winter protection in the tunnel, and an early start to the growing season, yields are less than desired. The development of cultivars/selections that mature earlier also would be beneficial to growing primocane blackberries in high-tunnels in cold climates. Elm Tree Farm - Postscript The farm cooperator planted three rows of Primocane Blackberries in a 30 x 96 high tunnel in the spring of The cultivars selected were Prime Jim and Prime Jan. Both varieties looked good in the late fall of 2010 with cane growth being as long as 8-9. The fall of 2010 was a very mild fall, so growth continued into early November. Unfortunately, in the early winter tragedy struck and the high tunnel collapsed because of snow load, however the plants were still protected by the high tunnel. Because of the high tunnel collapse the blackberries were not pruned down or mulched with straw and snow as planned. The collapsed high tunnel was removed as early as possible in the spring, and was not rebuilt for the 2011 growing season. Left: Tunnel growth, mid-july, Right: Field growth, mid-july 2011.

5 50 Fruits and Vegetables Nennich NCROC Field Blackberry Plant Height & Spread Height (inches) Spread (inches) Cultivars 6/8/2011 7/19/2011 8/17/ /4/2011 6/8/2011 7/19/2011 8/17/ /4/2011 APF APF APF MNPF MNPF Prime Jan Prime Jim Average NCROC High Tunnel Blackberry Plant Height & Spread Height (inches) Spread (inches) Cultivars 6/8/2011 7/19/2011 8/17/ /4/2011 6/8/2011 7/19/2011 8/17/ /4/2011 APF APF APF MNPF MNPF Prime Jan Prime Jim Average Temperature differences inside and outside of the tunnel.

6 Fruits and Vegetables Nennich 51 NCROC Field & Tunnel Vigor Ratings FIELD TUNNEL Vigor Branching Strudiness Vigor Branching Sturdiness Cultivars 6/8/2011 7/19/2011 8/17/ /4/2011 6/8/2011 7/19/2011 8/17/ /4/2011 APF APF APF MNPF MNPF Prime Jan Prime Jim Average Ratings are on a 0-5 scale, 0=no growth, 1=least to 5=most Left: Blossoms turning to green fruits. Right: Ripening tunnel fruit on August 3. NCROC 2011 High Tunnel Blackberry Yields % Early Harvest Total Total Average Cultivars by Aug 30 Grams Pounds g/berry APF APF APF MNPF MNPF Prime Jan Prime Jim 72 1, Average 56 4,

7 52 Fruits and Vegetables Nennich Samples of ripe fruit from late August harvests. Early in the spring, roots and crowns from each variety were dug and examined for winter injury. Even though the winter was very cold there was no visible crown or root damage, however the flora canes that were allowed to produce showed moderate damage. The spring of 2011 was much cooler and wetter than normal and growth of both varieties was extremely slow. Some flora canes from each variety were left to see if they would bear early. They started to flower in early June, however only 5% of the plants flowered. The project at Elm Tree Farm was discontinued. Management Tips 1. Temperature regulation in the high-tunnel can be problematic. The installation of temperaturecontrolled ventilation can be effective for dissipating excessive heat. Supplemental heat may need to be provided in order to extend the growing season and enhance production. 2. A layer of mulch in the high-tunnel can be effective for weed prevention and for the retention of soil moisture. Wood chips were used in our tunnel for these purposes. 3. Providing adequate winter protection for tunnel-grown plants is important, as winter injury can result from lack of snow cover. An insulating layer of straw and snow applied before winter temperatures plunge below 0 F may prevent winter-kill and give plants a beneficial head start for summer growth. 4. Berry crops grown in high tunnels appear to suffer from lack of pollination, thereby reducing productivity. Portable beehives are becoming available for use in high tunnels, and may be a way to make marginal berry plantings more productive. 5. Existing primocane cultivars may not be suitable for the cold climate of Minnesota, but growers should keep informed about new cultivars that incorporate a higher degree of winter-hardiness and an earlier maturity date. Cooperators Patricia Bliska, Berry Grower, Elm Tree Farm, Afton, MN Dr. Jim Luby, Professor/Breeder, Department of Horticulture, U of MN, St. Paul, MN Dr. John Clark, Professor/Breeder, Department of Horticulture, U of AR, Fayetteville, AR Dr. Emily Hoover, Professor, Department of Horticulture, U of MN, St. Paul, MN

8 Fruits and Vegetables Nennich 53 Dr. Carl Rosen, Professor, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, U of MN, St. Paul, MN Patricia Johnson, M.S., M.Ag., U of MN - North Central Research and Outreach Center, Grand Rapids, MN Keith Mann, Plot Coordinator, U of MN - North Central Research and Outreach Center, Grand Rapids, MN Project Locations Elm Tree Farm is located at Afton Blvd. S., Afton, MN. From St. Paul, travel about 11 miles east on I-94. Merge onto MN Hwy. 95 S/Manning Ave. (Exit 253) toward Hastings. Go about 4 miles then turn left on 40 th St. S/CR-18. Follow CR-18 for about 3 miles and the farm is on the left. North Central Research and Outreach Center From St. Paul, take I-35E north about 110 miles. Merge onto MN Hwy. 33 N (Exit 237) toward Cloquet. After traveling about 11 miles, take the exit for US Hwy. 2 toward Grand Rapids/Duluth. Turn left (west) onto US Hwy. 2 and travel about 60 miles. Turn slightly right onto US Hwy. 169/NE 4 th St. and go 1.7 miles to our location on the left. Other Resources Dr. John Clark, Professor/breeder, Department of Horticulture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, , jrclark@uark.edu FarmTek high tunnels. Website: Nennich, T., David Wildung, and Pat Johnson Minnesota High Tunnel Production Manual for Commercial Growers. Website: distribution/horticulture/m1218.html Nourse Farms, 41 River Rd., South Deerfield, MA 01373, Website: University of Minnesota. High tunnel research. Website: